Issue 10 / Week 3 / 2021
What an unusual week! It looks like new controllers have managed to beat cats and WPM posts. Anyway, this is still a hand-picked selection of last week's content from a keyboard builder's perspective. Posts that may teach you something, make you think and contribute to the common knowledge of the DIY builder community.
There are 22 entries in this issue:
Projects
The Lagrange keyboard
The Lagrange is an open source keyboard with palm keys and detailed build log by dpapavas.
JiaEX
The JiaEX is a split keyboard for extended alphabets with nice repo by oleg_sk.
Sofle v2 officialized
Sofle v2 officialized by josefadamcik. Site, repo and changes.
Framework rev. 1 prototype
The Framework rev. 1 prototype is an all-THM ortho with Atmega328P (repo) by 7c8.
Emoji macropad
A Preonic turned into an emoji macropad for Discord (build video) by MendezAS.
Sick-68
The handwired Sick-68 with Amoebas, gallery and detailed budget by wildjokers.
Python-powered macropad
This low-profile Python-powered hotswap macropad has tricky lowpro encoders, gesture control and more (by SouthPawEngineer).
Knob Goblin
Knob Goblin: a 5x4 macropad with encoders, OLED and gallery by Chew-Magna.
DracuLad 2nd round protos
DracuLad 2nd round with Puchi C controller and trackball by MangoIV.
Make a Keyboard
A handwired project and detailed tutorial on how to design and make a keyboard by berkstone.
aball: a buttonless trackball
The aball is a well documented buttonless trackball by brickbots.
Tools
Raspberry Pi Pico & RP2040
Thoughts on the Raspberry Pi Pico, a review, plus the Sparkfun and Adafruit boards using the same RP2040 chip.
Controller boards for CircuitPython
Controller boards for CircuitPython with Pro Micro footprint by SouthPawEngineer.
Hobby mat themed desk pad
Hobby mat themed desk pad with accurate measurements by pointless-nerd.
Arduino firmware generator
This firmware generator by jack-of-some outputs Arduino code based on layout and pin maps (repo).
Tips & Tricks
Improving white backlight
An idea to improve white backlight by pajser92.
Apple Extended II USB mod
A retrofitted Apple Extended Keyboard II with internal USB hub (photolog) by greener_ca.
Keycap material vs. sound
The keycap material's effect on the sound by riskable.
History
Sounds of an IBM 5251 Beamspring
This IBM 5251 Beamspring brings pleasure to your ears (by Icemanrec).
Keyboard Spotting
Preh Commander
The Preh Commander is a hefty ortho for German pharmacies. Not mechanical but features MX compatible caps (posted by ryota25).
The Unicomp/General Electric Medical Model M!
The Unicomp/General Electric Medical Model M by SharktasticA.
Inspiration
Gentlemen 50%
The Gentlemen 50% is a symmetrically staggered board with no-stab layout (by james_sa).